Comments on: Vipassana Experience http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90 Tal Gur Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kenneth Elder http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-849 Kenneth Elder Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:44:42 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-849 Most vipassana groups encourage one to begin gradually increasing the meditation time at home before doing a long intense meditation retreat. The first level of attainment of the Liberation of Nibbana, Stream-entry does not produce a permanent detachment from the senses. It does dissolve away the illusion that anything in our body or mind is some unchanging permanent Self and with that almost all fear of death. Each mind moment conditions the next. Meditation is not an all or nothing thing. I would encourage Tal to do a short mindful sit everyday. It does have health benefits and benefits in job, etc. I started vipassana here in Austin Texas way back in 1971 with just books as my teacher. I have had some brain damage since but still get up every morning to meditate, just not as much of it was when I was young and spent many a month vacation in summer in the mountains meditating. In lucid dreams I have been shown the choices for my next life and I will again pick up vipassana and be even better at it having spent a lifetime meditating to the degree my banged up brain can handle. It was good that I started out young and had some early success. Life is very impermanent including the brain. Most vipassana groups encourage one to begin gradually increasing the meditation time at home before doing a long intense meditation retreat. The first level of attainment of the Liberation of Nibbana, Stream-entry does not produce a permanent detachment from the senses. It does dissolve away the illusion that anything in our body or mind is some unchanging permanent Self and with that almost all fear of death. Each mind moment conditions the next. Meditation is not an all or nothing thing. I would encourage Tal to do a short mindful sit everyday. It does have health benefits and benefits in job, etc. I started vipassana here in Austin Texas way back in 1971 with just books as my teacher. I have had some brain damage since but still get up every morning to meditate, just not as much of it was when I was young and spent many a month vacation in summer in the mountains meditating. In lucid dreams I have been shown the choices for my next life and I will again pick up vipassana and be even better at it having spent a lifetime meditating to the degree my banged up brain can handle. It was good that I started out young and had some early success. Life is very impermanent including the brain.

]]> By: My RTW Trip | Tal Gur http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-238 My RTW Trip | Tal Gur Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:17:46 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-238 [...] think my biggest challenge in that sense came during myVipassana experience when I had to focus on the air coming out of my nostrils for 2 days straight. Quite extreme but it [...] [...] think my biggest challenge in that sense came during myVipassana experience when I had to focus on the air coming out of my nostrils for 2 days straight. Quite extreme but it [...]

]]> By: Ajaipal http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-66 Ajaipal Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:15:35 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-66 Thank You for a great "review" of your Vipassana experience...the good, the bad, and the ugly:) I have been accepted to a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat that is starting 18/May/2011. That is why I try to read about others' experiences right now. Thanks again... Thank You for a great “review” of your Vipassana experience…the good, the bad, and the ugly:) I have been accepted to a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat that is starting 18/May/2011. That is why I try to read about others’ experiences right now. Thanks again…

]]> By: My RTW Trip http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-65 My RTW Trip Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:57:17 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-65 [...] think my biggest challenge in that sense came during myVipassana experience when I had to focus on the air coming out of my nostrils for 2 days straight. Quite extreme but it [...] [...] think my biggest challenge in that sense came during myVipassana experience when I had to focus on the air coming out of my nostrils for 2 days straight. Quite extreme but it [...]

]]> By: Rory http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-64 Rory Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:04:50 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-64 I completed the 10 days course twice and will do again and again. There is nothing extreme about it in term of survival. You are well taken care of. You get good breakfast and lunch. First time students get teabreak at 5pm with fruit and juices. One thing one should bear in mind is that this is not a mental institution. I am sorry that Patrick had manic pyschosis but this course doesn't lead a normal person to this episod. What Tal achieved in 3 days seemed a lot especially if he could resist from moving and stay focus at present moment for one full hour. Very few experienced meditators can claim that. And if Tal could dissolve "I" in 3 days, that is BIG. It takes a lifetime for most people to dissolve "I". I would thereby encourage Tal to continue to practise it as he has a very strong foundation. By the way, only on the 4th day we are given instruction to feel our sensation througout our body, not on the 3rd day. I completed the 10 days course twice and will do again and again. There is nothing extreme about it in term of survival. You are well taken care of. You get good breakfast and lunch. First time students get teabreak at 5pm with fruit and juices. One thing one should bear in mind is that this is not a mental institution. I am sorry that Patrick had manic pyschosis but this course doesn’t lead a normal person to this episod. What Tal achieved in 3 days seemed a lot especially if he could resist from moving and stay focus at present moment for one full hour. Very few experienced meditators can claim that. And if Tal could dissolve “I” in 3 days, that is BIG. It takes a lifetime for most people to dissolve “I”. I would thereby encourage Tal to continue to practise it as he has a very strong foundation. By the way, only on the 4th day we are given instruction to feel our sensation througout our body, not on the 3rd day.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-63 Patrick Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:23:25 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-63 Hi, Just googling to see what other blogs are out there. I'm the guy who wrote the livingvipassana.blogspot.com blog. Basically - I did stick out the 10 days - and ended up having a manic psychosis. So.. good work for knowing your limits and getting out early. I really think that while vipassana can have benefits - you really need to work yourself up to it gently! Cheers, Hi,

Just googling to see what other blogs are out there. I’m the guy who wrote the livingvipassana.blogspot.com blog.

Basically – I did stick out the 10 days – and ended up having a manic psychosis. So.. good work for knowing your limits and getting out early.

I really think that while vipassana can have benefits – you really need to work yourself up to it gently!

Cheers,

]]> By: kerriann http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-62 kerriann Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:17:46 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-62 sounds extreme. i expect a manic episode if that is the worst that could happen I'm in. I have sat for hours but not days. Can you eat? Can you drink? I think i will begin slowly, but i need this. i am seriously in need of a spiritual jolt. mania is just a hyper state of existence. i do not believe that it is a human state to fear. i love a bi-polar and his mania would allow him to touch heaven. don't fear other's experiences endure your own. thanks for your information - courageous one. sounds extreme. i expect a manic episode if that is the worst that could happen I’m in. I have sat for hours but not days. Can you eat? Can you drink? I think i will begin slowly, but i need this. i am seriously in need of a spiritual jolt. mania is just a hyper state of existence. i do not believe that it is a human state to fear. i love a bi-polar and his mania would allow him to touch heaven.
don’t fear other’s experiences endure your own. thanks for your information – courageous one.

]]> By: Barmöbel http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-61 Barmöbel Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:31:37 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-61 This is the best blog I have ever read thank you! This is the best blog I have ever read thank you!

]]> By: Matt http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-60 Matt Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:15:22 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-60 Interesting that you decided to call it off after four days. It does seem that the Vipassana 10 day retreat can be pretty extreme. See livingvipassana.blogspot.com for a tale of a retreat that ended with a manic episode and subsequent hospitalisation (no previous history). Cautionary tale. Interesting that you decided to call it off after four days. It does seem that the Vipassana 10 day retreat can be pretty extreme. See livingvipassana.blogspot.com for a tale of a retreat that ended with a manic episode and subsequent hospitalisation (no previous history). Cautionary tale.

]]> By: Kigneepypedig http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-59 Kigneepypedig Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:34:59 +0000 http://www.tal-gur.com/blog/index.php/archives/90#comment-59 Many of folks blog about this matter but you wrote down really true words. Many of folks blog about this matter but you wrote down really true words.

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